EDF-w funds women-owned and women-staffed businesses to increase women’s participation in the private sector and labor market. This ensures that women are supported to meaningfully engage in mainstream economic recovery and development in Iraq by providing on-the-job training opportunities, job referrals, and creating jobs for women specifically. It also increases women’s access to financial capital that would not be available to them otherwise. Supporting women in the labour force goes beyond economic empowerment; it works towards increasing participation of women in decision-making and leadership roles. The two main objectives of EDF-W are to support female-led businesses to expand through facilitated access to capital, and to support the entry into the labour force of female jobseekers who may face cultural, economic and social barriers. The EDF-w further supports start-ups and early-stage female entrepreneurs in partnership with local incubators and training centres.
To better understand the needs and vulnerabilities of female business owners and female jobseekers, in 2021 IOM undertook a feasibility study which determined that women need additional support to grow their businesses. Restrictions to women’s freedom of movement and decision-making in business investments highlighted factors that restrict businesses from reaching their full potential.
In 2022, IOM expanded on the feasibility study through an assessment and report into supporting female entrepreneurs in Iraq. The findings of the assessment were developed into recommendations that guided the application process, selection criteria and support mechanisms of EDF-W.
Read the full report here:The EDF-w uses a multi-stage selection process in which businesses are filtered based on a scoring system supported by a due-diligence process. The below diagram summarizes the various stages businesses go through prior to final grant.
